astronomical unit

noun

, Astronomy.

1. a unit of length, equal to the mean distance of the earth from the sun: approximately 93 million miles (150 million km). : AU

astronomical unit

noun

1. a unit of distance used in astronomy equal to the mean distance between the earth and the sun. 1 astronomical unit is equivalent to 1.495 × 10 ¹¹metres or about 9.3 × 10 ⁷miles

astronomical unit

/ ăs′trə-nŏm′ĭ-kəl /

1. A unit of length equal to the average distance from Earth to the Sun, approximately 149.6 million km (92.8 million mi). It is used especially to measure distances within the solar system.
2. Compare light-year

astronomical unit

1. The mean distance between the Earth and the sun , about 93 million miles or 150 million kilometers. It is often abbreviated as AU.

Word History and Origins

Origin of astronomical unit¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

The average distance between Earth and the sun, what astronomers call an astronomical unit, is defined as 149,597,870.7 km.

From Scientific American

An astronomical unit, which measures the distance between the Earth and the sun, is approximately 93 million miles.

From Fox News

One AU, or astronomical unit, is approximately 93 million miles, or the distance between the Earth and the sun.

From Fox News

One astronomical unit is the equivalent of 93 million miles or the distance between the Earth and the sun.

From Fox News

“So. We’re near Dralee, right? That means the gate is about a half an astronomical unit from this location if we—” “The gate does not exist.”

From The Verge